Item 17 - Countywide Signal Synchronization Baseline Project

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Countywide Signal Synchronization Baseline Project October 17, 2023 Page 2 beginning to experience conflicting timing demands at these intersections. Moreover, the study indicated that it is best practice to periodically resynchronize traffic signals to ensure operational efficiency and adjust for changes in traffic. To ensure that all Orange County signals are revisited, the countywide signal synchronization study resulted in the following recommendations to enhance the signal synchronization program moving forward: • Set a countywide signal synchronization baseline by retiming approximately 2,500 Orange County signals along regionally significant corridors to avoid any crossing coordination conflicts and ensure signal timing is based on current traffic volumes. • Separate Orange County into zones with signals and corridor segments grouped based on traffic progression and to facilitate implementation. • Transition from a corridor -based to a zone -based approach that is retimed on a regular basis to minimize conflicts with crossing corridors. Monitor the performance of the signals in the interim and enhance upcoming retiming efforts to maximize the benefits of the zone -based approach. • Continue to offer annual calls that balance signal synchronization and signal capital improvements to ensure Orange County is future ready. The recommended updates aim to provide a program that will regularly coordinate signals as the basis for synchronized operation across Orange County, which includes 204 traffic signals in Santa Ana. OCTA has received $15 million of external funds to administer and deliver this project. While OCTA will fund and act as lead agency for the project, a cooperative agreement (Exhibit 1) is necessary to identify the roles and responsibilities of each participating agency, to maintain inter -jurisdictional synchronization during the project period which is scheduled to begin by January 2024. Upon project completion, responsibility for ongoing signal timing maintenance will revert to the respective local agencies. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Staff will return to Council with a request for approval of further actions and will indicate the fiscal impact of any such awards and associated expenditures at that time. EXHIBIT(S) 1. Orange County Cooperative Agreement (C-3-2433) Submitted By: Nabil Saba, P.E., Executive Director— Public Works Agency Approved By: Steven A. Mendoza, Assistant City Manager